Under the Dog
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
The year is 2025. Five years have passed since the Tokyo Olympic Games were called off after deadly terrorist attacks. An international school run by the United Nations now stands in the former Olympic site on the edge of Tokyo Bay. Seven teenagers with special abilities, known as "Flowers," are among the students. Their student identities are only a cover for their real identities as members of an intelligence organization run by the UN. Their objective is to assassinate other teenagers who have the same abilities. The Flowers have no choice but to complete their missions without fail. Their organization has taken their family members hostage to ensure this. For the Flowers, failure would mean death not only for themselves but also for their loved ones. This is the story of their struggle against cruel fate, and of how it is human nature to find hope, however bleak the outlook.
Audience Consensus
Audience opinion is sharply divided, with a significant portion praising the stunning visuals, action, and unique narrative approach, while others criticize the severely underdeveloped story and characters. Many feel it functions more as a pilot or teaser than a complete work, leading to frustration despite its technical merits.
Strengths
- Visually stunning animation and cinematography, especially during action sequences.
- Impressive implementation of 3D with 2D art, and well-executed action choreography.
- Engaging pacing and directing, creating a "mini-movie" feel.
- Soundtrack is well-composed and fitting for the scenes.
- Unique narrative approach with "show, don't tell" elements and satisfying plot twists.
- Accurate and detailed military tactics, adding a layer of realism.
Weaknesses
- Lack of coherent story and underdeveloped narrative with unexplained terms and concepts.
- Underdeveloped characters lacking depth, making it difficult to connect or care about them.
- Over-reliance on "explosions" and gratuitous action at the expense of plot and character development.
- Pacing issues and rushed storytelling due to being a short episode.
- Inconsistent animation quality in non-action scenes and bland character designs.
- English voice acting is described as mediocre to poor by some reviewers.
- Felt like a "pilot episode" or "teaser" rather than a complete story, leaving many questions unanswered.